Method of regenerating storage batteries.



.the following is a sodium-s .lyte, and, after battery parts, I

UNITED srnrns PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES s. PALMER, or NEWTONVILLE, MAssAcHUsErrs.

Mnrnon I or nnen ivnimrrne sroRAGE Emmet;

No Drawing. v

To all 'wkoml'z't may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES S. PALMER, a citizen pf the United States, residing in N ewtonville, county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Regenerating Storage Batteries, of which specification.

y invention relates to an improvement in the'method of regenerating lead storage batteries, by which,

rious alkaline salts'have been added to the ordinary electrolyte, in the vain hope of accelerating. the remedial effect of the usual slow and often repeated charges applied in g to restore a sulfated battery; but such minute additions are ineffective, and not within the spirit and scope of my work.

'using my regenerative method, I first clean the plates, removing the. old electroadd a concentrated solution of'acid-sodiumsulfate, with the addition of a'small amount ofsulfuric acid suificient to prevent efilorescence. I then charge anddischarge several times, with due regard to keeping the negative and positive plates well balanced in'the solvent and reducing action of my electrolyte in the alternate charge and discharge. During the charge the negative plate is chiefly alfected, and, unless the subsequent discharge is suitably regulated, the two plates w' not share equally n the regenerative action. I preferably use 1n the first cycle low current density about (seven thousandths of an ampere per square in. of positive plate area, both in charge and discharge, increa the current density with successive cycles, in say five to seven thou sandths of an am per sq. in; of positive plate area in the [fi cycle, to several times, preferably three times the preceding in each successive cycle, till the plates are soon Specification of Letters Iatent. f

bringing the batteries back to.

proper assembling of the.

Patented July 20, 1915; r Application fiIedJanuary 12,1e1a-Q'Seri 1Nt.1,770.

brought up to'good'efrl'ciency. 'Ilsually thr ce cycles will bring the eificiencya though a few more treatments may be necessary in obstinate cases.

' When acid-sodium-sulfate, or the acidsulfa'te of other alkali-metal is not at hand, a solution of it can be prepared for my electrolyte, by taking tion of common sodium sulfate in Water, with the requisite quantity of partly dilute sulfuric acid to form acid-sodium-sulfate,

with a slight excess of acid to prevent efllo rescence, and keeping the sp. gr. above 1.1 and preferably around 1.2. has the combined qualities of strong concentration of sodium, or other alkaline-metal, salts, acid reaction the lead material of the plates during open circuit, together with strong solvent and reducing-and-oxidizing action in, alternate charge and discharge.

Having thus described I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of regenerating sulfated lead storage batteries, which consists in charging-and discharging the same, with a water-solution of anac'id sulconcentrated fate of an alkali-metal as electrolyte.-

,1 2. The method of regenerating sulfated ead charging and discharging the same, with an electrolyte consisting of a concentrated water-solution of an acid sulfate of'an alkali metal, with the addition of a slight excess of sulfuric acid.

3.. The method ofregenerating sulfated lead storage batteries, which consists in charging and discharging the same, with an electrolyte consisting of a solution of an acid sulfate of an alkali-metal, 'with a slight excess of sulfuric acid, employinglow current density in the first cycle, and successively increasing in later cycles. V v y 4. The method ofregeneratingsulfated lead storage batteries, which consists in charging and discharging the same with a concentrated solution of an acid sulfate of an alkali-metal,-

with a small addition of sulfuric acid, the

charge and discharging rates beingkept at such ratio that the negative and positive plates shall share equally in the regenerative action.-

5. The method of regenerating sulfated lead storage batteries, I charging and discharging the same, w1th,-a.n

a concentrated solu-' My electrolyte insuring insolubility of my invention, what storage batteries, which consists in I which consists in electrolyte consisting of a concentrated so- In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set Mi lution of an acid sulfate of an alkali-metal, my hand at the city of Newton, county of with the addition of a small amount ofsul- Middlesex and. State of Massachusetts, this furic acid, the specific gravity of such elec- 9th day ofJanuary, 1915,

5 trolyte being maintained abovell and the 3 successive charges and discharges being so; 'S' PALMER regulated as to secure uniformity of regen- Witnesses:

erative' action upon the negative and posi- VVM'. T. HALLIDAY,

tive plates. H. W, DAVIS. 

